Cover plate and toggle switch actuator



y 19, 1953 K. E. SAVAGE COVER PLATE AND TOGGLE SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed Aug. 7,, 1951 INVENTOR. fffA/A/ETH A. 5A V466 ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER PLATE AND TOGGLE SWITCH ACTUATOR Kenneth E. Savage, Fitchburg, Mass. Application August 7, 1951, Serial No. 240,619

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved cover plate and wall protector of new and ornamental design to replace the usual switch plate for toggle type electric switches, and including a switch actuator of novel and improved construction.

The principal object of the invention includes the provision of a device as described wherein the switch actuator is freely rotatable in the wall protector plate on an axis normal to the plate and includes a turning knob at one side thereof and a yoke or the like at the opposite side to engage the conventional finger actuated device for operating toggle types of switches, the rotation of the switch actuator being restricted to an oscillation by such engagement when the new plate is in position, and with the previous or old type of plate completely removed; and the provision of a device as described which is double including a pair of turning knobs each peculiarly and particularly positioned relative to the plate and the toggle switches.

Another object of the invention includes the provision of an integral wall protective and ornamental edge, extension, shield or the like on the new switch plate, the rotary switch actuator being located in a raised central portion and the edge extension or shield appearing as a depressed skirt to lie closely adjacent to the surface of the wall in which the switch is mounted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the new plate;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethru;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the switch actuator looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a modification.

The cover plate of this invention is generally indicated at It! and comprises a single, unitary, one piece article which may be cast, pressed, molded, or formed in any way convenient of any material desired. The essential characteristics of this cover plate include the central raised portion l2 of which lines l4 indicate the approximate size of the conventional switch plate which is removed prior to application of the new plate; the depressed skirt or shield portion l6 which is preferably stepped to achieve an ornamental appearance while dropping away from the raised portion I2 to contact or closely approach the surface of a wall or other object on which the switch is mounted.

By the construction described, the entire switch, switch box, and hole in which the latter is received are completely covered, and the adjacent surrounding wall areas are protected by a single plate including a switch actuator to be described. The plate may be provided with holes l8 for the usual screw fasteners or other means can be used for this purpose.

Offset from the vertical centerline of the new plate is a knob 20 which may be of any ornamental characteristic but is preferably lined or knurled for easy manipulation. The knob is journaled in the plate on a freely rotatable pin 22 extending therethru and having a foot in the form of a yoke 24 secured thereto at the inside aspect of the plate within the raised portion I2. The yoke is parallel to the plate It! and may be secured to the inner end of pin 22 by a rivet or other means 26.

When the plate is applied to the switch box,-

not shown, the toggle handle 28 of the switch will extend, at all times, into the operative area of the yoke and may be included between the arms 30 of the yoke. Thus by oscillation of the knob 26 on an axis at right angles to the plate, the switch is actuated between on and off positions with particular ease. The knob is no longer free to rotate but is held by the toggle handle or finger piece in either of two positions at rotational angles with respect to each other. When the plate is not applied to a switch, the knob is freely rotatable.

The yoke oscillating on an axis normal to the plate, oscillates in a plane normal to the plane of oscillation of the finger piece 28, and yet operates the latter at all times while being limited in the degree of oscillation thereby.

The double device of Fig. 4 is similar in all respects to that of Fig. l but has a larger raised portion 32 and a pair of knobs 34, secured to yokes 36 as before. The essential characteristic here is that the knobs are arranged to have the yokes extend toward each other and each knob is adjacent an opposite vertical edge of the raised portion to engage and actuate the usual toggle switch finger pieces 38 of a double switch installation.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

A switch cover plate for toggle type electric switches comprising a raised plate portion, an eccentrically positioned pin rotatable in the plate in the raised portion on an axis normal thereto, a knob at the exposed side of the plate and a yoke at the opposite side thereof, the knob and yoke being secured to the pin, the yoke being located wholly within the raised plate portion for disposition in spaced relation to a wall or other support on which the toggle switch is mounted, and a depressed continuous skirt integral with the raised portion and adapted to contact the wall surrounding the switch to protect the wall, the yoke being rigid and non-resilient and the arms thereof embracing the toggle switch handle.

KENNETH E. SAVAGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,213,657 Rowe Sept. 3, 1940 2,252,829 Bell Aug. ,19, 1941 

